Where to Collect

Based on the seed collection or procurement plan, identify the locations that have a collectable crop within the elevation band and geographic area that meets the seed transfer guidelines. The seed or breeding zone maps or Seed Transfer Expert System is essential for determining suitable collection areas. Be sure to follow the elevation transfer guidelines prescribed locally for each species.

Seed can be moved plus or minus half of the collection band. To ensure that seed is adapted to this band, collection generally is limited to the central half of the collection band. (This is not the case in some regions.)

Example: Ponderosa Pine Blue Breeding Zone in Montana

The transfer elevation band is 800 feet. Seed can be transferred 400 feet above and below the midpoint elevation of the seed collection.

Collection band 400 feet. Based on the 800-foot transfer band, the collection is limited to half of the band. Seed can be collected 200 feet above and below the midpoint elevation of the collection.

Example collection: Seed collected between 3,800 and 4,200 feet (a 400-foot band) can be used to grow seedlings to plant in units between 3,600 and 4,400 feet (an 800-foot band) in elevation.

<See diagram attached, not yet included>

In general, you should collect from the best genetic source available. The Forest Service recognizes five tree-improvement program intensity levels ranked by increasing complexity and the potential genetic gain. The potential adaptive value and genetic gain that can be realized increases from Tree Seed Zones (level 1) to Selective Breeding (level 5). Low-level programs can be implemented quickly and are used when higher levels are not available. Refer to FSM 2475.32 for further explanation of the program intensity levels.

• Level 1—Tree Seed Zones (bulk collection from desirable trees from throughout the collection area)
  
  
• Level 2—Seed-Collection Stands (collection from desirable trees from one or more desirable stands.)
  
  
• Level 3—Seed-Production Areas (collection from trees from rogued stands managed for seed production)
  
  
• Level 4—Seed Orchards (unrogued)
  
  
• Level 5—Selective Breeding and Rogued Seed Orchards

Your local terminology may differ slightly, but your local terms should correspond to these terms that are used for Forest Service reporting (FSM 2475).

This section deals with operational collections, generally from levels 1 to 3, although many concepts will apply to higher levels. If you mix program levels, you reduce the potential for genetic gain. For example, bulking the collection from several seed collection stands results in a seed lot with the adaptive value of Tree Seed Zones even though such an approach may be slightly better than collecting from trees scattered throughout the collection area.